Devolution for London

Fiona Twycross: The introduction of a new Prime Minister will bring renewed calls for greater devolution and investment to regions around the country. What are your priorities for London and how will you make the case for them within a highly competitive field?

The Mayor: I am making the case for a better deal for London from this Government - this includes continuing to lobby for greater devolution, powers and resources to enable us to deliver more for Londoners.
I have written to the Prime Minister and his Ministers outlining my priorities which require their urgent attention, including my top priority of keeping Londoners safe. I also stressed that stopping Brexit, tackling London’s housing crisis, investing in nationally significant transport infrastructure, cleaning up London’s air, driving economic growth across the country and championing a diverse and inclusive UK are critical to the city and nation we wish to see.
My predecessor as Mayor should know the exceptional challenges London faces and the inequalities that exist. So, given he is on extensively on the record as an advocate for greater investment and devolution for London, I intend to hold him to his promises in this regard. I will continue to lobby wholeheartedly for a new devolution settlement, as set out in the London Finance Commission reports. This is the starting point for turbo-charging London’s potential for the benefit of all Londoners. However, I don’t regard success for London as zero-sum game against the rest of the country - I want to see all our cities and regions unleashed to deliver on their potential too. I work closely with the cross-party group of metro mayors and we have written jointly to the new PM making the case for devolution and investments in our regions.